Cancer

Yep. I'm up for something too. God knows I've had my share of resources thrown at me, so giving something back is the least I can do. Not sure the old body is up for walking up numerous hills yet, the end of the road sometimes seems like a bit of a trek, but count me in. I'll certainly be doing something once I'm totally back to normal.

Happy to report that I remain in remission 9 months on and I am sure it's for life! There are some scary, long term side effects to worry about that I expect will mean my life expectancy is a little lower, but hey, I ride motorcyles and drive a RWD chipped turbo! Playing competitive sport is a distant memory and I think it wil remain that way for some time more.

Everything is relative mate - your troubles are no less real to you - and that is your perspective and there is nothing wrong with it. The one thing that really got me (and still does) was people going: "I feel rotten, I've got a cold, poor me..." and then stopping cold and saying really quickly: "Gosh, I am so sorry, it's nothing compared to what you've got. How silly of me, etc etc".

I think that is the wrong response though a very nice, human one. We have an expectation of what keeps us happy. If we have a cold, it makes us unahppy. People are being unsympathetic about guys like Mittal who have lost billions these last few months, but are still worth over 10 billion ("what's he upset about? He could sponsor my life a million times over...."). My point is that though 5 million would leave many of us wildly happy, Mittal might be happy with 20 billion and therefore 10 billion makes him unahppy.

Philosophy aside (as you can tell, I had some quality thinking time!) thank you very much for the thoughts! I know you wish everyone here the same!

Reading a thread like this puts things into perspective. It also suggests to me how relatively trivial so many other issues that divide us in this world really are.

This is a real enemy, and while many of the posts contain sadness, what I can't help admiring is the courage displayed in the face of it.

Certainly does.

Lady B.J.W was diagnosed with cancer in Feb 2008 - we married in August 2007 and first noticed something was not quite right at the start of September 07 (even though her last smear test said otherwise). Following the diagnosis she was taken into hospital for 6 hours of surgery and a radical hysterectomy. She returned to hospital twice after developing complications and contracting e-coli. She then underwent 2 months of daily radiotherapy and chemotherapy. After just about getting back on an even footing she began to complain about back pains, and November 2008 was taken up with various tests and scans. Two days before Christmas (and after 7 of the worst days of my life waiting for the results) we were sat with our Consultant waiting to hear if the PET scan had shown up cancer elswhere. One lymph node (which was outside of the original area of treatment) showed signs of containing suspicous cells. It was a surreal experience being told that Lady B.J.W had no tumours elswhere (and the sense of complete relief that came from that), only to experience an equal sense of 'relief' when we were informed that she 'only' needed to go back into hospital for further treatment in Jan for what ultimately ended up being another 4 hours of surgery. She was back on her feet and discharged yesterday, only 4 days after being in theatre. We are now waiting for the biposy results on the bits they removed and tested - these should be with us on Friday and will determine whether Lady B.J.W needs further treatment moving forward.

As I type this I can hear her laughing with her mother downstairs about the fact that "at least they knew where to cut this time because the dotted line was already in place from her first bout of surgery" We are both only 34 years old. Our entire married life has been dominated by cancer and it has taken so much from us - the opportunity to have a family being one of them. However, we have both developed an inner strength and resolve to beat cancer that I never thought I could ever possess. We love each other, but I sincerely believe that cancer has ultimately brought us closer together.

Any of the problems I thought I had prior to Lady B.J.W's diagnosis now seem trivial (that is not to say that they were not important at the time). Hard not to be sentimental when writing about someone you love, but despite everything that has happened we are probably more optimistic about what the future holds than we might have been previously. After all, if you can beat cancer (which she will) then you can deal with anything.

BJW

Footnote to add - Lady B.J.W and her Mother are now arguing. It would appear that things are just as normal as they previously were.

Steve how about starting a new topic on the idea of fundraising?

When I was 24 I visited my doctor 1 day for him to have a look at an ingrowing toe nail.Whilst he was looking at the nail he asked me about a large mole on my foot,and how long it had been there.I told him that it had been there as long as I remember,and showed him another large mole on my chest.When he saw the second mole his exact words were "fking Hell!How long have you had that?!".He immidiately made me an appointment to see a specialist and within a week the mole was removed under local anasthetic in hospital.
It turned out that the mole was a malignant melanoma and my whole world was turned upside down.I was very frightened and worried.I had to have checks it the hospital,every fortnight,then after a while every month,then every 3 months,then every 6 months.Luckily the cancer had been caught in time and Im still here 15 years after the event.